BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-Pittsburgh swept Bakersfield in the season opener softball doubleheader for both schools. In the opener, Carly Thea's two-run home run to right in the top of the sixth gave the Panthers a 4-3 victory.

Amy Ricciardi's (Sr., Chino Hills, Calif., Ayala HS) two-RBI single in the bottom of the first gave the 'Runners an early lead. Maggie Sevilla smacked a home run to left in the top of the second to get the Panthers on the board.  Shay Fryer's (Sr., San Diego, Calif., University HS) RBI single in the bottom of third made it 3-1 in favor of the Roadrunners.

Carissa Throckmorton doubled with two outs in the top of the fifth to bring in a run, but the tying run was thrown out at the plate by freshman Kayli Shaw (Rocklin, Calif., Whitney HS) who took a relay from Karissa Veiga (Sr., Hemet, Calif., Hemet HS). Shaw replaced an injured Fryer at shortstop earlier in the inning.

Thea hit her game winning homer with two outs in the sixth. The 'Runners rallied in the bottom of the seveht. Karsyn Guzman (Fr., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) led off with an infield single. Veiga's sac attempt went for naught as she popped out to Panther pitcher Savannah King. Freshman Cassidy Santiago (Lake Elsinore, Calif., Temescal Canyon HS) grounded into a 1-4 fielders choice for the second out. Guzman stole second before Shaw grounded out to short to end the game.  

In game two, Pittsburgh defeated Bakersfield 7-5. On the first pitch of the second game, Throckmorton hit a home run to left field.  The Panthers scored five in the top of the third, highlighted by a Thea grand slam.  Guzman got the Roadrunners on the board in the fifth when she smacked a two-run home run.  Bakersfield inched closer in the sixth when the 'Runners scored off a Pittsburgh error. 

The Panthers added one in the seventh before Ashley Carter (Jr., Tehachapi, Calif., Tehachapi HS) doubled in Briana Pontecorvo (So., Hanford, Calif., San Jose State) to get within three once again. Guzman lined out to right for the first out. Veiga's ground-rule double plated Carter for a 7-5 Pittsburgh advantage. Savannah King, the game one winner, relieved Alexa Larkin to face Santiago.

Santiago grounded out to first. Sydney Raeber  (So., Hanford, Calif., Hanford HS) grounded out to second to end the game. Veiga and Santiago each posted two hits. Pontecorvo scored two runs.

"I'm very impressed with our team," said head coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler. "Our team bounced back very well. Our pitchers gave up some long balls and that happens; it's part of the game. I'm very impressed with what we have and having faced a tough opponent from the ACC, I think that bodes well for us for our first two games."

The Roadrunners are entered in the UC Santa Barbara Gaucho Classic this weekend.

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